HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING: Robbinsville seniors deliver in win over Lawrence

ROBBINSVILLE — It was senior night at Robbinsville last night and it was a strong performance by the Raven seniors at the top of the lineup that led the way in a 54-15 thrashing of Lawrence.

After a key 9-7 win by junior Tom Biscardi to open the match at 160, Robbinsville seniors Dave Steward, Troy Hoffman, Conner Harding and Nate Smith piled on four straight pins to give the Ravens a 27-0 lead out of the gate and set off the rout.

“I expected it to be a very close match,” said Robbinsville head coach Dan Hughes. “We started out with a couple of big wins and got some momentum.

“We got four in a row from our seniors. It was their night and it was nice to see them go out on a real high note. I am extremely proud of these guys.”

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The senior onslaught was not just devastating, it was also fast. Steward at 170, Harding at 195 and Smith at 220, all recorded first period pins. Hoffman’s came in at a relatively slow 2:42.

Anticipating a closer match, Hughes had juggled his lineup as Steward, Hoffman and Biscardi all moved up a weight to get the matchups the Ravens coach wanted.

While those opening wins paved the way, it was by no means the end of the Robbinsville assault. The Ravens would rip off 11 straight wins before Lawrence was finally able to break through by winning the final three bouts of the night.

After the quartet of seniors provided that cushion, heavyweight Tyler Gildner and 113 pounder Dylan James added to the lead by picking up first period pins of their own in two of the next three weights. In between, 106 pounder Manny Sanchez won a 10-5 decision.

That trio of additional wins gave Robbinsville a 42-0 lead and allowed the Ravens to clinch the match with six bouts still remaining.

Robbinsville would add a forfeit win and a pair of decisions from Chris Tan at 120 and Sam Acheampong at 132 to go up 54-0.

That finally brought the lineup around to Lawrence’s wheelhouse but by then it was far too late.

Gordon Wolf at 138 and Michael Jennings at 145 both came through, as expected, for the Cards. Wolf rallied with three third period points to knock off Robbinsville’s tough Nick Bossie 8-5 and Jennings picking up a pin in 3:10.

Adam Gibson followed that up with the Cards’ second pin of the night to close out the match.